Unless you’re a particularly tall person, you probably never paid much attention to the ceiling of your car because you didn’t have the need. However, although it is not so small, this area is often overlooked when polishing the interior. Think about it, how many times did you try to wash it, and do you even know how to clean the headliner? No worries, it is not the end of the world if you’ve never done it because we are going to show you how to do it like a pro.
If you don’t touch it, it can’t get dirty, right? Wrong. The car ceiling is like the ceiling of your home. You don’t often get in contact, but somehow it gets dirty over time, especially if you’re smoking inside, or you killed a bug and left a stain as a warning sign to other bug-intruders. It just needs to be a bit refreshed from time to time. If you want your vehicle to shine inside and outside like it’s the president’s limo, you should learn how to clean the car ceiling, and that’s why we are here today to share with you some tips and tricks on how to do it with ease.
Perhaps you skipped watching the best TV show about cars, or you weren’t paying attention to car driving tips for beginners at drivers school, but before you start driving, you should really get to know all components of a car. And, unless you’re driving a cabrio, your vehicle will certainly come with a headliner. When buying a used car like some of the best import cars, or buying a car from a dealer who purchased from an auction, a quick look at its ceiling could tell you a lot about its maintenance and overall condition.
Previous owners usually remove dog hair from the car, replace or clean seat belts, steering wheel, and polish the dashboard. Only those who really took proper care of their vehicle and maintained it throughout the years will always remember to wash the interior roof. So this could be a good indicator of the car’s actual condition and age.
Before we jump into how to clean the car interior roof part, we first need to see what it’s made of. This is important because it impacts on the choice of cleaning supplies you’ll use. In the majority of cases, headliners are manufactured in one piece. Meaning that if it gets damaged, you have to replace it entirely. There are no parts that could be detached or replaced. The majority of headliners is constructed out of three different material layers:
Besides the obvious purpose of protecting passengers and covering the metal roof, headliners are important for several reasons. Headliners contribute to the vehicle’s insulation, keeping the cool or hot air inside so that when AC or heater are turned on, their effect is more noticeable.
Most modern vehicles also come with a foam layer that actually calms down the vibrations and reduces the noise inside. So if you had a feeling that your car is very quiet when working, it is partially due to the headliners. And then, there is that aesthetic moment, which is why you should know how to clean a car headliner. Headliners give that sleek final touch to the vehicle; there would be just bare metal roof construction without them.
When it comes to cleaning, there are different types of “problems” or stains you might have to deal with. It is not the same if you use your car only for city driving or off-road driving, not to mention if you smoke cigarettes inside while cruising down the most famous routes in the United States. Cigarettes might help you lower down driving stress or driving anxiety, but smoke is one of the worst enemies of all materials used for headliners.
There will be a lot of things you’ll learn about your car, from changing a flat tire to adjusting the parking brake and adding brake fluid. But keeping it clean, not just from the outside, should be among your priorities from day one because there’s really no science behind it. This is something we all can and should do. However, you have to be cautious with what you’re treating upholstery because you don’t want to damage it. That’s why we divided this into three categories and offered a solution for each type of problem. Let’s take a look.
In case there’s just a spot or two covering a small area, using a microfiber cloth and appropriate upholstery cleaner could be enough to remove the stain quickly.
If the previous combination was not enough to get rid of a persistent dirt spot, then it’s time to step up your game. You’ll have to clean a larger surface, and here’s how you should do it:
Deep cleaning is not something that should be your go-to option. Too much moisture and heat can impact the glue that’s holding all the layers together, and lead to sagging and deterioration. So always try the first two methods, and if none of them helps, you should get a deep cleaning system, hot water, a stain remover, and follow these steps to clean the roof of the car:
Stains from smoking inside of cars are the worst because you really need to wash the entire surface. Smoke doesn’t just leave a small dirty spot. Some people even use steamers, but others think outside of the box and combine a polishing machine with a microfiber pad. Let’s check out how that looks and works.
Besides stains, headliners tend to hold bad smells, and no one wants that in its car. However, those who smoke will undoubtedly know what we are talking about, so here is a quick recipe on a mixture that will help you remove bad odors. You can use this regularly as a precaution measure that will also slow down the process of creating those nasty smoke stains.
Here is what you’ll need to mix up for this small DIY project:
Pour this mixture into a spray bottle and shake it well. Spray the solution onto the cloth, and then gently dab it onto the roof, while trying not to oversaturate it. Do not apply this mixture directly onto headliners because it could soak them and lead to mildew. Once it dries, go over the entire surface with a vacuum cleaner to remove any remains of baking soda.
In case you’re getting ready to pack a car for moving or prepare a car for shipping, it is always recommended to wash it thoroughly. Whether you opt for enclosed auto transport or an open trailer for shipping a car cross country, you should always wash it outside and inside and take pictures of its condition. A reliable auto transport company will ensure that your door to door auto transport runs smoothly, but since car shipping takes time, you certainly don’t want to be surprised by a funky smell once you open your car. So if we could give you any final car shipping advice, it would be to prepare it thoroughly for this journey.
